And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands.
Psalm 90:17 (NKJV)
Do you remember your first disagreement with your spouse?
Maybe you felt undervalued or misunderstood. Maybe you thought your spouse could be doing a better job. Maybe you were unsatisfied with how much attention your spouse was giving you. Or maybe you criticized a decision your spouse made.
Many times, these smaller conflicts can turn into long-term issues in your marriage. You harbor bitterness against your spouse. You critique everything they do or say. Instead of building them up with encouragement, you tear them down. And while you’d still say that you love your spouse, your actions often don’t show it.
If you’ve found yourself in situations where you don’t want to love your spouse, God’s Word offers encouragement. God understands that marriage is one of the most difficult yet rewarding things we can experience. Kids, financial stress, sickness, and job issues all make showing love to our spouse much harder. But God does not leave us alone in our struggles. He does not abandon us when our marriage is marked by stress, bitterness, or disagreement. Instead, he offers us daily strength and wisdom that help us pray for and love our spouse like Jesus loves us.
Psalm 90:17 is one verse that can help you refocus your heart on loving your spouse. You and your spouse are partners in the work of building your marriage and knitting your family closer to each other and to God. That is difficult, time-consuming work, and it’s impossible to do without God’s help. Praying for your spouse is one way that you can advance the work that God has called you to do.
As you learn to pray the words of Scripture with and for your spouse, you can trust that God’s Word will guide you both in pursuing thankfulness and encouragement rather than division. Begin today by asking God to renew your marriage and grow you and your spouse in faith!
